4 Signs That It's Time To Change Your Workout Routine

Let’s face it—as humans, we like our routines. We pack the same lunch every day, watch the same shows every week, and do the same workout every time we hit the gym.

Whether you’re into CrossFit, interval training, or spin classes, one thing is certain: you’ve found your go-to form of exercise.

Of course, it’s an awesome thing to find a workout that works for you. Because until you find an exercise routine that you enjoy, it’s hard to maintain a long term fitness habit.

Here’s the thing, though—there are some downsides to a workout routine that’s focused on just one type of exercise. If you stick to one workout, every single day, you risk repetitive injuries, fitness plateaus, and boredom.

Sound familiar? If you’re stuck in a workout rut (hint: you dread going to the gym, stop seeing results, or start skipping workouts), it might be time for a new exercise routine. Here are four signs that it’s time for you to switch up your workout.

YOU’VE HIT A FITNESS PLATEAU

For weeks (or months), you’ve been hitting the gym consistently, maintaining a clean diet, and seeing amazing results—then, you hit a plateau. Even if you haven’t changed any of your healthy habits, you stop getting results...and start feeling frustrated and discouraged.

The truth is, our bodies are remarkably adaptable. While this incredible adaptability helps us survive and thrive in a variety of situations, it also means that our bodies quickly get used to our routine workouts.

So, if you complete the same exact exercise routine every day, your body will “figure it out,” and you’ll hit a fitness and weight loss plateau. The solution? Start incorporating new types of exercise into your weekly workout schedule (and start seeing results again).

YOUR WORKOUTS ARE GETTING REPETITIVE (AND MIGHT LEAD TO INJURY)

Practicing the same workout every day can lead overuse injuries and muscle strain. If you practice a repetitive form of exercise (such as running), you’re especially prone to these injuries that are caused by performing the same muscle movements over and over again.

So, if you practice a repetitive cardio routine and want to be a little bit kinder to your joints, start mixing up your workouts. Add flexibility, strength training, or conditioning workouts once a week to strengthen a new set of muscles and prevent injuries.

YOU’RE IN A WORKOUT SLUMP

We’ve all hit a workout slump before. It starts with one or two skipped gym sessions—maybe because of a bad winter cold or a stressful season at work or home. Then, the excuses set in: I’ll go back next week or I’m too busy today. Before you know it, your consistent workout schedule is a distant memory.

When you’re in the middle of a workout slump, it’s hard to find the motivation to get back into a regular exercise routine again. You know that you’ll have lost stamina, strength, and agility. And it’s really hard to kill those pesky bad habits that set in so quickly.

If you’re in a workout rut right now, it’s a great time to try a fun, new, stress-free fitness activity. Take the pressure off yourself and stop seeing your daily exercise as a chore. Try a new group fitness class you’ve been meaning to attend, go for a run and get some fresh air, or schedule a workout date with a friend.

YOU’RE NOT GIVING YOUR WORKOUTS 100% EFFORT

If you’ve been practicing the same style of workout for a while, you may have started to get comfortable and complacent. If you’ve noticed that you tend to slack off at the end of a workout, or you’re no longer pushing yourself to the max, it might be time to try a new workout and up the intensity.

Of course, it’s super important to listen to your body—we don’t want you to risk injury or overexertion in any way!

But...it’s also important to push yourself, challenge yourself, and stretch yourself in order to achieve results. You’re not going to lose those next five pounds or see those biceps pop if you’re still lifting the same weight you were two years ago.

Try joining CrossFit, trying out for a local sports league, or working out with a personal trainer to challenge yourself to take your fitness to the next level.